COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- A unified approach -- implementing small
baby guidelines -- for premature infants improved outcomes, U.S. researchers
found.
The study, published in Acta Paediatrica, found 37 infants born prematurely --
before 27 weeks gestation age -- cared for using this approach were discharged
an average of 13 days earlier than the 40 infants given usual care.
The unified approach infants also showed a higher survival rate for two common
complications of premature birth -- bronchopulmonary dysplasia and severe
intraventricular hemorrhage.
Doctors, nurses, therapists, nutritionists, pharmacists and social workers at
Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, developed the unified approach
by meeting together to create small baby guidelines for 11 different focus areas
and agreeing to use these guidelines to treat the infants.
"There is a wide variety of attitudes and feelings about the care of these
premature babies," study author Dr. Leif Nelin of Nationwide Children's Hospital
said in a statement. "Getting everyone on the same page was the most important
aspect of this approach."
Source : United Press International
